“Japanese blog Macotakara reports that Apple’s manufacturing partners Foxconn and Pegatron have begun production on the next-generation iPad, with Foxconn once again bearing approximately 85% of the load,” Eric Slivka reports for MacRumors.

According to the report, the initial production batch is targeted for shipment in early March, in line with a number of rumors regarding the iPad 3 launch,” Slivka reports. “The report reiterates several of the details found in iLounge’s reports on the device, including descriptions of a form factor that looks approximately the same as the iPad 2 but which is slightly thicker.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Lynn Weiler" for the heads up.]